'Ash fallout' alert after Hawaii volcano erupts in 30000-foot plume

18 May, 2018

After an eruption from the Kilauea volcano's summit shot ash and smoke 30,000 feet into the air on Thursday, officials handed out nearly 18,000 masks to help residents deal with the fallout. While the ash being launched into the sky is not poisonous, Hawaii County officials have warned residents about toxic sulfur dioxide seeping out of 21 fissures caused by the volcano.

Mount Pinatubo last erupted in 1991, killing more than 350 people in what became the second-largest eruption of the 20th century.

"Volcanic eruptions, like the one in Hawaii and the one earlier this month at Cleveland Volcano in Alaska, are vivid reminders of why it is so critical to have continuous and reliable monitoring systems", Murkowski said. The local authorities had issued a red aviation code warns pilots to avoid potentially unsafe cloud of ash.

Kilauea is one of five active volcanoes on the island of Hawaii.

An aviation red alert was issued due to risks that ash could be carried into aircraft routes and damage jet engines.

The lava has destroyed at least 26 homes and 10 other structures.

Cruise lines have been getting questions about Hawaii with the intensive news coverage of two weeks of explosions from the Kilauea volcano on the Big Island.

Scientists warned on May 9 that a drop in the lava lake at the summit might create conditions for an explosion that could fling ash and refrigerator-sized boulders into the air.

George Kourounis sits at Kilauea Hawaii in 2006 during a visit to the volcano

It caught sight of an explosive eruption on Thursday morning at Kilauea's summit.

At a press conference, U.S. Geological Survey volcanologist Michelle Coombs said this is one of the biggest volcanic eruptions they've ever seen.

"Smog from Kilauea drifted north up the island chain as the districts of Kau, Puna, and North and South Hilo were told by the National Weather Service to expect ashfall".

Thursday's eruption sent ash about 30,000 feet above sea level.

As Ugalde watched from outside her house, she said the plume above the trees began to spread and moved over her home.

Hawaii volcano Kilauea violently erupted in the early hours of the morning, spewing giant rocks and a huge plume of volcanic ash.

"In the old days, people used to love to come see the volcano. They'd even take their little postcards, burn one corner in the lava flow, mail then off, stuff like that", he said.

The USGS posted webcam footage of an ash plume billowing from Kilauea's summit, and a plume of ash from an observation tower. "Now they're acting like it's all super-dangerous and everything, but it just kind oozes out". Mount St. Helens last rumbled to life in 2008, but a massive eruption in 1980 killed 57 people and blew ash over a dozen states. But the youngest volcano on the island of Hawaii actually has a long history of eruptions dating back thousands of years.

Teacher pack opening of legislative session in Raleigh
In the office of Republican Representative Kelly Hastings, a group of teachers talked about the need for more teacher assistants. They are all pushing for the same outcome: more money in their pockets and in their classrooms.

PSG appoints Thomas Tuchel as new managerMay 18, 2018
In a recent talk with news outlet L'Equipe Neymar rubbished off any rumors linking him with a move away from the French capital. During his spell his two-year spell with Dortmund, Tuchel won the DFB Pokal Cup in the 2016/17 season at the Signa Iguna Park.

2 dead, thousands without power as storm lashes USMay 17, 2018
At least two people are dead and thousands of customers are without power Wednesday in CT after severe storms pounded the state. As many as 62,000 customers were reported overnight to have lost power across the state, according to New Jersey .com.

Pope expresses 'great sorrow' over Gaza killingsMay 17, 2018
Christian education, he said, is a right of each child so that they can gradually come to know the plan of God for them. The pope expressed his pain and concern about the current wars.

West Bengal panchayat elections: Repoll ordered in 568 boothsMay 17, 2018
The voting took place for 621 zilla parishads, over six thousand panchayat samitis, and almost 31 thousand gram panchayats. At Bhangar in South 24 Parganas, the police arrested several bike-borne miscreants for allegedly intimidating voters.

The Boston Celtics used LeBron James' great start against himMay 17, 2018
James, who managed just 15 points in the Game 1 loss, has won five consecutive East playoff series after losing the series opener. EST in Cleveland , as the Cavs, who are down 2-0, will look to climb back into the series. "They're being physical.

JR Smith Shoves Al Horford in Celtics-Cavaliers Game 2May 17, 2018
At least Smith can admit that he blatantly fouled him, but it was the way in which he did it that makes it so outrageous. Lue has every reason to swap Smith with Kyle Korver to get some more consistent shooting in the starting lineup.

Signs of bomb found at site of deadly SoCal explosionMay 17, 2018
Pieces of the device found at the scene were being sent to the FBI's laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, to be analyzed, he said. Witnesses spoke of a loud crash and said they saw two women who had been burned in the explosion come out of the building.